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McCain goes back to Washington, but to do what?

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain poses at the Republic Media building in downtown Phoenix on Thursday, August 3, 2017.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

U.S. Sen. John McCain at his office in Phoenix on Monday, April 6, 2015.
Michael Schennum/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

This is an undated file photo of Sen. John McCain, lying injured as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. It was among 4,000 photos and documents given to a U.S. delegation by Hanoi. McCain was a U.S. Navy pilot downed in Vietnam in 1967.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

John McCain is escorted by Lt. Cmdr. Jay Coupe Jr., public relations officer, March 14, 1973, to Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport after the POW was released.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, a POW for over five years, waves to well-wishers on March 18, 1973, after arriving at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Then-U.S. Navy Commander John McCain, a guest of the South Vietnamese government, visits an orphanage that cares for youngsters fathered by American G.I.s in Saigon, Vietnam, on Oct. 30, 1974. McCain, a son of the admiral who commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific at the height of the Vietnam War, was shot down over Hanoi and spent several years as a POW.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Then-U.S. Navy Commander John McCain, a guest of the South Vietnamese government, visits the Holt orphanage in Saigon, Vietnam, on Oct. 30, 1974. The institution cares for many youngsters fathered by American G.I.s. McCain, son of the admiral who commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific at the height of the Vietnam War, was shot down over Hanoi and spent several years as a POW.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

U.S. Rep. John McCain holds a photo of a marker in Hanoi, Vietnam, at Truc Bach Lake where he parachuted after being shot down as a Navy pilot in the Vietnam War. McCain, who was a POW for 5½ years in Hanoi, was in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 18, 1985, en route to Hanoi to visit this site.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

John McCain speaks to an audience in Encanto Park in Phoenix on Oct. 18, 1986.
Larry Woodall/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

As John McCain looks on (left), Vice President George H. W. Bush is greeted by Evan Mecham during a visit to Phoenix in October 1986.
The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., center right, huddles with Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., to discuss strategy at the conclusion of the daily members meeting in the Mansfield room near the Senate floor in Washington on March 26, 2001.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain addresses the media at Swift Aviation at Sky Harbor International Airport on May 5, 2008.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain and President George Bush shake hands at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at the end of the president's brief visit to the Valley on May 27, 2008.
Jack Kurtz/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., smiles as he appears with former first lady Nancy Reagan Tuesday, March 25, 2008, in Bel Air, Calif. Reagan endorsed McCain for president as the Arizona senator continued to collect the backing of leading Republicans who might help him win over critical conservative voters.
Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Photos: John McCain through the years

Republican presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, bask in the celebration at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Sept. 4, 2008.
Charlie Nye/The Indianapolis Star

Photos: John McCain through the years

Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (R) (D-Ill.) and Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) shake hands after the first of three presidential debates before the 2008 election on Sept. 26, 2008.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Photos: John McCain through the years

Then-President-elect Barack Obama applauds Arizona Sen. John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate, during a bipartisan dinner in McCain's honor on Jan. 19, 2009, in Washington, D.C., on the night before Obama's inauguration as 44th U.S. president.
AFP/Getty Images

Photos: John McCain through the years

Arizona Sen. John McCain talks with host David Letterman in this 2008 Late Show appearance.
CBS via Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain and former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin make a campaign appearance on March 26, 2010, at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain gets his own apron after talking to employees at the Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center in Tolleson, to campaign and tour the new facility on July 30, 2010.
Deirdre Hamill/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain and wife Cindy cast their ballots at Madison Camelview Elementary School in Phoenix on Aug. 24, 2010.
Deirdre Hamill/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife, Cindy McCain celebrates his win in the GOP primary race, on Aug. 24, 2010, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix. Sen. McCain defeated former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) speaks as Sen. Joseph Lieberman (ID-Conn.) (center) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (left) listen during a news conference about the crisis in Syria on May 11, 2011, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Photos: John McCain through the years

Former presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) (R) announced that he is endorsing Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during a town hall meeting at Central High School January 4, 2012, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Getty Images

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain celebrates a goal by the Phoenix Coyotes as they host the Nashville Predators in the first period of Game 2 of the second round playoff series Sunday, April 29, 2012, in Glendale.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Senator John McCain speaks during a gathering of supporters for presidential candidate Mitt Romney Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain holds a town hall with West Valley residents at Peoria City Hall, on Aug. 23, 2012.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

From left, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. sit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain speaks with those gathered at a town hall meeting at the Goelet A.C. Beuf Community Center in Phoenix on March 24, 2013.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain visits U.S. troops at a missile site in Turkey on May 27, 2013. McCain quietly slipped into Syria for a meeting with rebels.
Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Jack (from left), Renee, Cindy and John McCain are pictured at Jack and Renee's weekend wedding in San Francisco in summer 2013.
Crisman Studios

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain laughs during an exchange with Secretary of State John F. Kerry. The two spoke during a 2013 U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing about the authorization of use of force in Syria.
Jack Gruber/USA TODAY

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake address members of the media at McCain's Phoenix office on May 28, 2014, following the release of a report stating by the Veterans Affairs that at least 1,700 veterans at the medical center were not registered on the proper waiting list, putting them at risk in the convoluted scheduling process.
Charlie Leight/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain hugs Mitt Romney during a rally for John McCain's re-election campaign at Dobson High School on Dec. 12, 2015, in Mesa.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain with his wife Cindy gives a victory speech to his supporters during his campaign party at Heard Museum, Steele Auditorium in Phoenix on Nov. 8, 2016.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

U.S. Sen. John McCain reacts at The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University on Aug. 15, 2016.
Charlie Kaijo/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain greets supporters after winning his sixth Senate term during his campaign party at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on Nov. 8.
Sen. John McCain greets supporters after winning sixth Senate term during his campaign party at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 13, 2017, for a meeting on the revised Republican health-care bill which has been under attack from within the party.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain listens to former FBI director James Comey at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. FBI director James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation into Russia's interference in last year's presidential election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials on June 8, 2017, in Washington.
Henry Taylor/USA TODAY

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain receives the Liberty Medal from Chair of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees, former Vice President Joe Biden, in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2017. The honor is given annually to an individual who displays courage and conviction while striving to secure liberty for people worldwide
Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain and his daughter, Meghan McCain, sitting outside the family's cabin in Sedona in February 2018.
Special for The Republic

Photos: John McCain through the years

Sen. John McCain and his daughter, Meghan, in an undated photo posted to Instagram on March 18, 2018.
Meghan McCain/Special for The Republic

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The immediate answer seems to be the Senate's action that could lead to a bill to repeal or change the Affordable Care Act. A potentially crucial vote to proceed on that could come Tuesday, meaning McCain could play a pivotal role.

McCain's surprise announcement seemed to provide a jolt to Republican efforts to push ahead on an issue that has consumed much of the narrowly divided Senate's attention since the House passed a health care bill in early May.

Fellow Republicans have struggled to rally enough support to open debate on taking up at least one of the pending health care proposals.

McCain has not formally said he would support debating the issue, an initial parliamentary hurdle, though it is expected he will do so. And he has not made completely clear what must be part of any bill to gain his vote.

McCain said earlier this month that he wanted changes to existing health-care bills to ease the expected financial blow to Arizona's Medicaid program, suggesting a general support for the GOP approach that could be secured with the kind of amendments expected to unfold in the coming days if the issue is debated.

If McCain's legislative demands on health care are somewhat unclear, the same could be said for the plan to tackle the issue for others in the Senate. Several senators told reporters Monday they were still unsure which version of the health-care bill would be presented.

McCain's support is critical because, without him, Republicans can only afford to lose the support of one senator and still muster a bare majority with help from Vice President Mike Pence.

CLOSE

Republic reporters explain what glioblastoma is and what it means for Sen. John McCain.

Apart from the health-care debate, McCain's appearance back in Washington also raises questions he has left unanswered about his treatment plans for battling glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer that is difficult to treat.

It was unclear how long he planned to remain in Washington, though his statement indicated an interest in several items on the Senate agenda, including the defense-spending bill and sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea.

In some ways, McCain's return to Washington is reminiscent of that of another Arizonan.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made a dramatic return to the House of Representatives in August 2011, less than seven months after she was shot in the head near Tucson.

Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, returned to a divided Washington to help raise the government's debt ceiling, a procedural matter that, if not done, could have sent investment markets into a sudden tailspin.